Thursday, July 10, 2014

Memory Lane

I got a chance to read the article about the Sportster in the August 1973 issue of Super Cycle the previous owner was kind enough to send along. From the article:

The CH was the original "ba-a-a-d motorsickle." To own a CH was to own the ultimate in 2-wheeled transportaion. And more than a few high school kids worked paper routes and cut lawns during the summer trying to save enough money to buy this dream--though they often ended up with a 250cc Sprint.

That was me. Not only did I have a paper route and cut lawns, I baled hay and fried chicken. It still wasn't enough to swing the XLCH but it was enough to plunk down $650.00 cash to buy myself a Sprint H my senior year in high school.

But now I've got the Sportster and things are progressing slowly but surely. I had to order in the locking tab for the clutch nut but it should be in today. I started making the clutch tools but we had some company show up and put me back just a little. No biggie - nice visit and time well spent. Anyway, I didn't realize it initially but I actually need two different tools to tighten up the primary chain sprockets. One links the sprocket on the crank to the sprocket on the clutch shell. The other one locks the clutch shell to the clutch hub. I wish I knew how to run the CNC plasma at the college - I could knock out what I need pretty quick like. As it is, it'll take a bit of work the old fashioned way with a saw and a grinder but that's OK. The other option would be a couple of old clutch discs welded together but I don't have those either. I'll get it figured out and hopefully made up in the next few days.


2 comments:

Surly said...

Joe told me last night he made a clutch tool to remove the clutch. He was pretty certain he included it with the parts. He looked around the garage while I was there and didn't see it. You probably have it and don't recognize it. I told him not to worry as you like making tools.

Shop Teacher Bob said...

There's a tool in the boxes that appears to be what's necessary to compress the spring inside the clutch. To facilitate ease of assembly/disassembly of all things primary drive, there are two other tools required as well. One links the crank sprocket to the clutch basket and another tool locks the clutch hub to the basket. Including Joe's I'll have all three shortly. However the one I'm making to hold the hub to the basket won't work on your Sporty due to a design change. Your's, however, should be a real easy tool to make.